Waste and dust mop cleaning can



Dec. 8, 1942. E. w. NlELsEN- WASTE-AND-DUST-MO CLEANING CAN Filed Nov'. 25, '1941 Patented 8, 1942 l l v UNITED STATES PATENT oE-Fl-CE 2,304,193

WASTE AND DUST MOP CLEANING CAN Einar W. Nielsen, Maplewood, N. J.

Application November 25, 1941, Serial No. 420,339

7 claims. (c1. 1s 15) l This invention relates to a can or receptacle which can be used for a plurality of purposes such as a can for receiving paper or waste around the house or apartment, and for cleaning a dust mop thereinto.

It is the usual practice today for a housekeeper, after dusting up a.'V room, in cleaning the dust mop, to lean out Vof the window and beat the dust mop against the side of the house.

It is the object of my invention to avoid these old methods of cleaning a dust mop and to provide a much easier and cleaner way of doing it. To this end I have conceived an arrangement of a receptacle or can which can be used for two purposes: first, it maybe u'sed as a waste receptacle or can for paper and other things that find their way into a waste can around the house ;l and, second, as a `means for cleaning the dust mop without being obliged to open the window and shake it therefromr,'as this process ishard in the summertime because of the screens on the window which, if pushed out too far, will-usually unhook and may drop on someones head; and

objectionable in the winter-time as it cools of! the house or apartment.'

While attaining the principal object of my in vention, other ancillary objects will appear from the: following description taken inconnection.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 I of Figure 2, but showing a mop in cleaning position, together with a vacuum cleaner in position to take up the dustremoved from the mop.

` Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of construction. o

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the can or receptacle is made of any satisfactory material and can be made in any desired shape, either oval or round, the oval shape shown in Figure 2 being one very good form of making the can. Along one side of the can there is an opening 2 leading into a recess 3 which may be formed directly in the side of the -can or built thereinto by way of a partition l, thereby separating the recess 3 from the interior portion of the can. The lower .part of the partition I or bottom of the recess 3 has a platform 5 which is adapted to receive the the platform II. The platform 8 is' provided with an elongated slot 8 adapted to cooperate with the opening in the nozzle l of the vacuum cleaner. c

Normally, the opening 2 and recess! are cov,- ered by a circular cover or collar 9 which is provided with a pair of handles I0 and II for raising and lowering the collar l over 'the opening 2. 'Ihe handles I0 and II are preferably resilient with their .ends resting in openings I2 and I3 on opposite portions of the collar, in engagement with the walls of the can I,'thereby holding the collar in its raised position when it is desired to clean a mop Il which is inserted in the top of the can after the vacuum cleaner has been positioned as illustrated in Figure 3 and the current turned onto the motor of the vacuum cleaner. When the mop is shaken within the can, the dust is drawn downwardly past the partition 4 and through the slot 8 in the platform 5 and into the vacuum cleaner. After the mop-cleaning operation has been performed'the vacuum cleaner is removed and the collar 9 is'moved to closed position as shown in Figure 1, then the can can be used as a receptacle i'or paper and other waste materials.

In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, the can is a little diierently shaped andthe platform 5 extends clear across the bottom ofthe Acan and has, in addition to the opening 8, another opening I5. In addition, the interior Vsurface of the collar may have one or more spring members I6 positioned in a recess in the collar and in lengagement with the wall of the receptacle I.

In the different forms shown, it is preferable the can for the dual purpose as described, pronozzle or suction'portion 6 of, a vacuum cleaner 1. The vacuum cleaner suction portion 6 is readvides a much easier, and more-sanitary means v of cleaning dust mops.-

I t will be noticed, by reference to the drawing, that the can or receptacle may be used as a waste-paper can without the use of the collar l for the reason that the usual kind of waste paper thrown into 'the receptacle will not find its way out oi the relatively narrow slot l in the partiily moved into and out of the recess 3 and onto 55 tion separating the interior part of the can from the-recess 3. Furthermore, by setting the can.' v with the recess I toward the wall, the recess' will be concealed from view and the canl will have the appearance of having a continuous surface.

' I'he use of the collar is merely to cover the recess' 3 and absolutely prevent any fine pieces o: paper or waste from getting out of the interior ofthe can through the recess 3, and also to make `the can look more like the usual type of waste lbasket or can, therefore not requiring that the can be placed in a certain position with respect to the wall of the room.

What I claim is: A

1. A'self-supporting, non-collapsible can for the dual purpose of receiving waste material and for use in cleaning a dust mop, the can having an outside recess permanently formed by an inwardly projecting portion of the wall of the can to receive the suction portion of a vacuum cleaner,

the recess having a platform spaced a short distance from the regular can bottom, the platform having at least one slot therein in alignment with the suction slot in the vacuumk cleaner when it is inserted into the recess. and a collar normally as a regular waste can or basket. the collar being"4 bodily vertically movable to uncover said recess so the can can be used for cleaning a dust mop in the manner described.

2. Aself-supporting, non-collapsible can for the dual purpose of receiving waste material and for use in cleaning a dust mop, the can having an outside 'recess permanently formed by an inwardly projecting portion of the wall of the can to receive the suction portion of a vacuum cleaner,

may be shaken within the can. 45

3. A self-supporting, non-collapsible can for the dual purpose of receiving waste material and for use in cleaning a dust mop, the can having an outside recess vpermanently formed by an inwardly projecting portion oi the wall of the can projecting within the can to receive the suction portion of a vacuum cleaner, the can having a platform extending across the interior of the can and spaced a short distance from the bottom of the can and having oppositely disposed slots,one 55 of which is positioned to cooperate with the slot in the vacuum cleaner nozzle, the inner wall of the recess intercepting the platform between the tically movable to uncover said recess so the can can be used f or cleaning a dust mop in the manner described.

4. A self supporting, non-collapsible can for the dual purpose of receiving waste material and for use in cleaning a dust mop, the can having an outside recess to receive the suction portion of a vacuum cleaner, the recess having a platform spaced a short distance from the regular can bottom, the platform havingat least one slot therein 'in alignment with the suction slot in the vacuum cleaner when it is inserted into the recess, and a collar normally fitting around the lower part of the can over the recess to allow th'e can to be -used as a waste-paper can, the collar being bodily vertically movable to uncover the recess for the reception of a vacuum cleaner nozzle portion to allow the can to be used as a dust mop cleaner, and means to hold the collar in-raised position.

5. A self-supporting, non-collapsible can for the dual purpose of receiving waste material and for use in cleaning a dust mop, the can having an outside recess permanently formed by an inwardly projecting portion of the wall of the can to refitting over therecess to allow the can to be used 25 ceive the suction portion of a vacuum cleaner, the recess having a platform spaced a short distance from the regular can bottom, the platform having atleast one slot therein in alignment with the suction slot in the vacuum cleaner when it is inserted into the recess, and a collar normally tting over the recess to allow the can to be used as a regular waste can or basket, the

collar being bodily vertically movable to uncover said recess so'the can can be used for cleaning -a dust mop in the manner described.

6. A household utility waste-and-mop-cleaning can, the can havingan interior portion for receiving waste or a dust mop requiring cleaning, and an exterior portion formed by an inwardly projecting part of the can wall for receiving the suction end of a vacuum cleaner, the two portions being divided in part by bottom wall means having at least one communicating slot joining the two portions and llocated for cooperative relation with the vacuum cleaner pick-up slot, and a collar on the can bodily movable to convert the can to the uses specified.

7. A household `utility waste-and-mop-clean ing can, the can having an interior portion for receiving waste or a dust mop requiring cleaning, the can having an upright wallwith an opening formed therein, a wall positioned wholly within and extending along the interior portion of the can adjacent said opening to denne a nozzle-receiving chamber, the lower part of the projecting wall being spaced from the bottom of the can and having at least one communicating slot joining the said interior portion andsaid chamber, and located for cooperative relationslots therein, and a collar normally iltting over o ship with a vacuum cleaner pickup slot' the recess to allow the can tobe used as a regular waste can or basket, the collar being bodily ver- EINAR w. NmrsEN. 

